Apparatus for returning water of condensation to steam-boilers



J. H. BANKS.

APPARATUS FOR RETURNING WATER 0F CONDENSATION TO STEAM BOILERS.APPLICATION FILED JUNE 2 1917.

1,364,856. Patented Jan. 4,1921.

3 SHEETS- SHEEI I- Boller J. H. BANKS.

APPARATUS FOR RETURNING WATER F CONDENSATION T0 STEAM BOILERS.APPLICATION -FH.ED JUNE 2. I9l7.

1 364 856. Patented Jan. 4, 1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEEI Z.

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1,364,856 APPLICATION HLED JUNE 2. I917. 4., 3 SHEETSSHEET 3.

44 gg 4 E75 5 mm E 75 Bol/er 8 nvemtoz Joseph. H. Banks hi5 attozmus'UNITED STATES PATENT oFFIcE.

JOSEPH H. BANKS, or NEW YORK, n. Y.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 4, 1921.

Application filed June 2, 1917. Serial No. 172,486.

To all to ham it may concern:

Be it known that I, J OSEPH H. BANKS, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing at 531 West 159th street, New York, in the county ofNew York and State of New York, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Apparatus for Returning Water of Condensation toSteam-Boilers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to apparatus for returning the water ofcondensation from a steam heating system to the boiler.

The primary object of the invention is to provide an apparatus by theuse of which water of condensation maybe returned to the steam boilerunder a pressure greater than that existing in the boiler, whereby theapparatus, being independent of the action of gravity, may be located atany desired or convenient and accessible position with respect to theboiler.

The invention consists in the construction, arrangements andcombinations of parts hereinafter more particularly described andpointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate embodiments of theinvention,

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic elevational view of one embodiment of theinvention,

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic plan view of another embodiment of theinvention,

Fig.- 3 is an enlarged View in side sectional elevation of a vessel forreceiving the water of condensation to be returned to the boiler; alsoshowing a controlling valve in side elevation,

Fig. 4 is a side sectional elevation of the controlling valve shown inFig. 3,

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the valve, taken on th line A-A inFig. 4., and

Fig. 6 is a part cross-sectional view of the valve, taken on the line13-13 in Fig. 4.

Referring firstly to the arrangement of the apparatus as illustrateddiagrammatically in Fig. 1, the steam boiler 1 is of any suitable knowntype and is connected to the heating coils or radiators of a steamheating system in the usual manner which it is not necessary toillustrate herein.

Beneath the boiler 1 and supported by or let into the usual bridge 2 ofthe boiler structure is a steam generator in the form of a header 3, towhich a supply of water is conducted from the boiler by means of a pipe4,

which may be provided inside the boiler with a suitable strainer. Theheader 3 is so located that the water therein is subjected to theheating action of the hot gases produced by the fuel burning on thegrate 5 and passlng Over the bridge 2, and the steam thus generated inthe header is carried by a pipe 6 and a branch-pipe 7 to the controllingvalve 8 hereinafter referred to.

The water of condensation from the coils or radiators of the heatingsystem is carried by a pipe 9 and introduced into the water receivingvessel 10 and it is forced from this vessel, by the pressure of thesteam generated in the header 3, as hereinafter described, through apipe 11 into the boiler 1, a double check valve 12 preventing returnmovement of the water from the boiler into the vessel.

A valve 13 is, provided in the pipe 7 in order'that the apparatus may becut out of operation when desired, in which event the steam generated inthe header 3 passes through the pipe 6 and into the steam dome 14 of theboiler, so that even when the apparatus is not in operation to returnthe water of condensation to the boiler, the steam generator may beusefully employed to supply additional steam to the boiler. The pipe 6has a valve 15 therein to cut off the passage of steam to the boilerwhen theapparatus is in operation.

The pipes 6 and 7 may be connected by a branch 16 in which is located asafety or' back pressure valve 17 set to open when the steam in the pipe7 reaches apressure in excess of the predetermined pressure required toreturn the waterlof condensation into the boiler, the excess steampassing through the pipes 16 and 6 into the steam dome.

The flow of water from the boiler through the pipe 4 may be controlledor cut off by means of a valve 18, and the passage of steam into theboiler through this pipe is prevented by a check valve 19.

Referring now to the modified arrangement of the apparatus asillustrated in Fig. 2, the steam generator is in the form of a coil ofpiping 20, supported by the bridge 2 of the boiler structure, and intowhich water is introduced from a pipe 21, which may be a water main, ormay be the feed water pipe leading to the boiler. The coil is connectedto the pipe 21 by the pipe 4 and the steam from the coil passes throughthe pipe 6' to the steam dome 14" or through the pipe 7 to the valve 8,valves 15' and 13 being provided in these pipes, which are alsoconnected by a branch pipe 16 containing a safety valve 17., The pipe 4is provided with a controlling valve 18 and check valve 19. Theoperation of the apparatus illustrated in Fig. 2 is the same as thatfully described with reference to Fig. 1, and further description is nottherefore necessary.

With reference now to Fig. 3, which illustrates the water receivingvessel on an enlarged scale, it will be seen that the water ofcondensation from the coils or radiators of the steam heating system isconducted by the pipe 9, into the passage 22 which leads upwardly intothe interior of the receiving vessel 10, the water rising in this vesselat a speed dependent upon the rate of condensation in the heating pipes.Formed in one with the receiving vessel 10 is a compart ment 23 in whichis located a ball float 24, this compartment havinganupwardly extendingpassage or conduit 25 which communicates with the interior ofthe vesselat the extreme. upper end thereof. The compartment is provided with acover 26, by removal of which the ball float may be inspected orremoved. The ball 24 is carried by a tube 27 which is secured to a crosstube 28 mounted in suitable hearings in the walls of an extension 29 ofthe ball compartment, extending across the passage 22. The hollowinterior of the ball is in open communication with the atmospherethrough the tubes 27 and 28. Secured to the cross tube 28 is a lever 30the outer end of which is connected by means of a link 31 to a lever 32connected to operate the valve mechanism of the controlling valve 8, ashereinafter de scribed.

The lower end of the passage 22 communicates through an outlet pipe 33with one branch of the double check valve 12, and the lower end of theball compartment communi'cates through a pipe 34 with the other branchof the valve, the third branch thereof communicating with the pipe 11leading to the boiler. The check valve 12 comprises a casing in whichare a pair of valves 35, each pivotally mounted at 36, and adapted whenclosed to fit tightly against valve seats 37, 38 and to closecommunication between the outlet pipes 33, 34 and the pipe 11.

The vessel 10 is provided with a water gage 39 of any suitableconstruction, connected thereto at 40, 40, and by which the riseand fallof the water in the vessel may bee-observed.

A- steam pipe 41 leading from the controlling valve 8 communicates withtheinterior of the vessel 10 through a m-uifler 42 connected by pipe 43to the extreme upper end of the vessel.

The controlling valve 8 is illustrated in detail in Figs. 4, 5 and 6,and comprises a cylinder 44 in which is slidably arranged a'hollowpiston valve 45, the stroke ofwhich is limited in opposite directions bythe covers 46, 47 secured to the cylinder ends by studs 48. The steampipe 7 leading from the header 3, or the coil 20, is connected to theboss 49 extending from and communieating with a steam chamber 50 at theupper part of the cylinder 44. This chamber 50 has in its lower wall. apair of ports 51, 52 which are adapted to communicate alternately with aport 53 in the upper wall of the piston valve 45, whereby the chamber 50is in constant communication with the interior of the piston. Clearly asingle port in the wall of the'chamber 50 might be employed, this port,or that in the piston being of such length as to always allowcommunication between the chamber and piston. The piston is provided inits lower wall. with another port 54 which is adapted to communicatealternately with passages 55, 56 formed in the metal of the cylinder 44at the lower part thereof, the passage 55 communicating with the steampipe 41, leading to the vessel 10, and the passage 56 communicating witha pipe 57 which connects with the portion of the pipe 6 leading to thesteam dome 14, Figs. 1 and 2.

The steam. chamber 50 communicates through a passage 58 with a valvechamber 59 in which is arranged a small slide valve 60 working on a.valve face formed on the exterior of the upper portion of the chamber50, the valve chamber being formed by an apertured block 61 and cover 62held together and in place on the chamber 50 by nuts or studs 63 screwedinto the metal walls of said steam chamber. Extending from the valvechamber 59to opposite ends of the cylinder 44 are passages 64, 65 andbetween the ends of these passages which communicate with the valvechamber is an exhaust passage 66. \Vhen the valve 60 is in the positionshown in Fig. 4, steam passes from through passage 64 to the left end ofcylin- I (ler 44 and moves the piston to. the right, so that the steampasses from chamber 50 through ports 52, 53, 54-, passage 56 and pipes57 and 6 to the steam dome 14.

The valve 60 is operated by means ofa.

forked lever 67 engaging a projection 68 on the valve, this lever beingmountedon a squared portion 69 of a spindle 70 to the outer end of whichis secured the lever 32 which is operated by the ball float 24, the

spindle passing through a suitable stuffing box 71 in the side wall ofthe block 61.

The piston 45 has a central core 72 which has a passage or bore 73,extending part way therealong, the bore being closed at its right end bya screw-threaded plug member 74. Extending downwardly from the core 73are two tubular radial arms 75, the passages or bores 76, 77 of whichcommunicate at their upper ends with the passage 73 of the core. Thepassage 77 is also adapted to communicate at its lower end with anexhaust passage 78 formed in the metal of the cylinder 44. The distancebetween the passages 7 6, 77 is such that when the piston is in theposition shown in Fig. 4, =the passage 56 and the pipe 57 are closed bythe blank wall of cylinder 44 at the end of passage 76 when the pistonis moved to the right, the said passages 76, 73, 77 connect the passageleading to the vessel 10 with the passage 78. The exhaust passages 66and 78 are connected by piping 80 with a suitable exhausting means. Theplug member 74 is extended and flattened at 81 and passes into afiatslotted portion 82 of the bore of a boss 83 on the cover 47 in orderto hold the piston in the angular position shown in Figs. 46, the boreof the boss 83 being closed by a cap 84.

The manner of operation of the apparatus is as follows 7 By opening thevalve 13, Fig. 1, or 13', Fig. 2, and closing the valve 15 or 15, thesteam generated in the header 3 or in the coil 20 passes through thepipe 7 into the steam chamber 50 of the controlling valve 8 and thencethrough the passage 58 to the valve chamber 59. If during the working ofthe apparatus, an excess of pressure is produced in the pipe 7 and steamchamber 50, the valve 17, Fig. 1, or 17 Fig. 2, opens and the excesssteam passes to the steam dome through the pipe 6. The valve 17 or 17 isadjusted to permit the pressure of the steam generated by the header 3or coil 20 to reach a predetermined amount in ex cess of the pressure inthe boiler 1 so that when this pressure of steam is applied to the waterin the receiving vessel 10. such water will. be forced into the boilernotwithstanding the pressure therein. it has been found in practice thata pressure of between five and ten pounds in excess of the pressure inthe boiler is suiiicient for the purpose. Obviously, however, the valve17 can be set to open at any desired pressure in excess of the boilerpressure.

With the parts in the positions shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the water ofcondensation from the heating system is introduced through the pipe 9 tothe passage 22 and rises therein and in the receiving vessel 10 untilthe latter is practically full, at which t me the water overflowsthroughthe passage or conduit 25 into the ball compartment 23, with theresult that as the level of the water rises in this compartment the ballfloat 24 also rises, turning the tube 28 on its axis and through thelever 30 and link 31, moving the lever 32 downwardly from the positionshown in Fig. 3. During this time the valves 35 will be held closed bythe back pressure in the pipe 11, which will exceed that of the water inthe vessellO.

In the position shown in Fig. 3, the valve piston 45 will be in itsright hand position, that is, opposite to the position shown in Fig. 4,and the steam from the pipe 7 and chamber 50 will flow through the ports52, 53, 54, passage 56 and pipe 57 to the steam dome, the waterreceiving vessel 10 being connected to exhaust through the pipe 43,muffler 42, pipe 41, passages 55, 76, 73, 77 and 78. As the lever 32 ismoved downwardly by the action of the ball float, the yalve is movedinto the position shown in Fig. 4, and steam passes through the passageand moves the piston valve 45 to the left, the steam from the pipe 7 andchamber 50 then passing through the ports 51, 53, 54, passage 55, pipe41, muitler 42 and pipe 43 into the upper end of the water receivingvessel 10. As the generator 3, or coil 20, is continuously generatingsteam and this steam is passing through pipe 7 and the passagesmentioned, into vessel 10 and accumulating therein, the pressure ofsteam in said vessel quickly rises until it is in. excess of thepressure in the boiler and hence greater than the pressure in the pipe11, and the valve 35 then op ens from the valve seat 37 and the water inthe vessel 10 and passage 22 is forced downwardly therefrom through thepipe 33 and pipe 11 and into the boiler. The other valve 35 opens inturn from the valve seat 38 and the water in the passage 25 and ballcompartment 23 is forced by the pressure of the steam down wardlythrough the pipe 34 and through the pipe 11 to the boiler. As the waterlevel falls in-the ball compartment 23 the ball float 24 moves to itslower position and through the lever 30 and link 31. raises the lever 32into the position shown in Fig. 3, and the valve 60 is moved to theright, Fig. 4, so that the steam passes through the passage 64 to theleft end of the piston, moving the same to the right, and againconnecting the chamber 50 through the ports 52, 53, 54 and passage 56and pipe 57 with the steam dome. At the same time the water receivingvessel 10 is placed in communication with the exhaust through the pipesand passages previously mentioned,

so that the water from the pipe 9 again rises in the vessel, theoperation being repeated as soon as the water overflows into and risessuiiicientlv within the compartment 28. The connection of the steamchamber 50 through pipe 57 to the boiler, when the valve l5 is moved tothe right, Fig. 4, reduces the pressure in the pipes 6 and 7 and allowsthe water to readily flow into the generating means 3 or 20, and whenthe valve is in the position shown in Fig. at the back flow of steamfrom the steam dome through the pipe 57 is prevented by the closing ofthe end of passage 76 by the cylinder wall as shown in said figure. Avalve 93- is provided in the pipe 57 which is closed and opened at thesame time as the valve 13, fig. 1, or 13, Fig. 2.

A check valve 94 may be provided in the pipe 9, Fig. 1, in order toprevent back flow along this pipe when the water is being forced fromthe receiving vessel into the boiler.

The piston valve 45 may, of course, be provided with piston rings of anysuitable or usual type to prevent flow of steam between the same and theinner surface of the cylinder 44.

A jet of water may be introduced into the vessel 10 through a pipe 95,in order to condense the steam remaining in the vessel and therebyassist in the reduction of the pressure therein after the water has beenforced therefrom. This is not, however, essential, as the reduction ofthe pressure will be effected by the connection of the vessel toexhaust.

The use of steam at a pressure in excess of the pressure prevailing inthe boiler for returning the water of condensation thereto, is ofconsiderable advantage, as willbe readily understood, it being possibleto locats the apparatus for returning the water of condensation to theboiler in any suitable or convenient location, irrespective oftheposition of the boiler and other apparatus adjacent thereto, since theoperation of the apparatus is not dependent upon the location of thesame above the water level in the boiler to return the water thereto by.the action of gravity, as in numerous other devices which have. beenproposed. While two forms of generating means for producing the supplyof excess pressure steam have been shown, it is to be understood thatthese forms are merely illustrative and that other forms of generatingmeans might be e1nployed.

The location of the controlling ball float 2 1 in a compartment separatefrom but communicating with the water receiving vessel at the upper endthereof. permits of the vessel being completely filled with the water ofcondensation before the steam pressure is introduced into the saidvessel.

The inventionis not, of course, restricted to the details ofconstruction shown in the accompanying drawings, as variousmodifications may of course be made without departing from the spirit ofthe invention.

\Vhat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1; Anapparatus of the class described, comprising incombination, a waterreceiving vessel, means for introducing water into said vessel, aboiler, a conduit establishing communication between saidboiler and saidvessel, an auxiliary steam generator, and means operable to placesaid'generator alternately in communication with said vessel, to createa pressure in the latter in excess of that in the boiler to forcewaterfrom the vessel through said conduit into said boiler, and with saidboiler, whereby steam from the generator may pass to the boiler when itis not being admitted tothe vessel.

2. An apparatus of the kind defined by claim 1, having a steam conduitarranged between the generator and the vessel, a second conduit betweenthe first conduit and the boiler, and a back pressure valve located insaid second conduit and opening toward the boiler.

3. An apparatus of the kind defined by claim 1, having a. check valve,opening toward the boiler, located in the conduit connecting the boilerand vessel, said check valve being normally held in closed po ition bythe pressure in the boiler.

4. An apparatus of the kind defined by claim 1, in which thesecond-mentioned means includes a valve.

5. An apparatus of the kind defined by claim 1, in whichgthesecond-mentioned means includes a valve automatically con trolled inaccordance with the level of the water in the vessel.

6. An apparatus of the kind defined by claim 1, having means for placingthe interior oi the vessel in communication with the atmosphere whensteam is not being ad mitted thereto, said means beingcontrolled by themeans for establishing communication between the generator and thevessel or boiler.

7. An apparatus of the character described comprising a boiler,a conduitfor conduct ing steam to said boiler, a water. receiving vessel incommunication with, said boiler, a steam generator, a conduit for.conducting steam from the generator, and means operable to alternatelyplace the second conduit. in. communica i n w sai vessel an with thefirst conduit, to conduct steam from the generator alternately, into theves sel and, boiler.

8. An apparatus of the character described, comprising in combination, aboiler, a furnace. beneath said boiler for heating the same, anauxiliary generator of'considerably d smaller capacity than said boilerlocated beneath the same in proximity to said furnace to be heatedthereby,'a water receiving vessel in communication with said boiler, andmeans for periodically placing said auxiliary generator in communicationwith said vessel to create a pressure therein in excess of that in theboiler.

9. An apparatus of the character described, comprising in combination, aboiler, a water receiving vessel in communication with said boiler, anauxiliary steam generator of considerablysmaller capacity than said.boiler, a single conduit for conducting away from said generator theentire quantity of steam generated thereby, and means operating toperiodically connect said conduit to said vessel to introduce into thelatter the steam generated by said generator to force the water fromsaid vessel into the boiler.

10. An apparatus of the character de scribed, comprising in combination,a boiler, a water receiving vessel in communication with said boiler, anauxiliary steam generator of considerably smaller capacity than saidboiler, a conduit connected to said generator to conduct therefrom theentire quantity ,of steam generated thereby, a second conduit leading tosaid vessel, a third conduit, and means operable to place thefirstmentioned conduit in communication with the second conduit and withthe third conduit in alternation.

11. An apparatus of the character de scribed, comprising in combination,a boiler, a furnace for heating the same, a heating coil. heated by thegases from said furnace, means for introducing water into said coil atone end thereof, means for conducting steam from the other end of saidcoil, a water receiving vessel in communication with said boiler, andmeans for periodically placing the second named means in communicationwith said vessel to create a steam pressure therein in excess of that inthe boiler. f

12. An apparatus of the character described, comprising in combination,a boiler, a furnace for heating the same, a heating coil locatedimmediately adjacent said furnace and heated thereby, means forintroducing water into said coil at one end thereof, means forconducting steam from the other end of said coil, a water receivingvessel in communication with said boiler, and means for periodicallyplacing the second named means in communication with said vessel tocreate a steam pressure therein in excess of that in the boiler.

13. An apparatus of the character described, comprising in combination,a boiler, a furnace for heating the same, a heating coil heated by thegases from said furnace, means for introducing water into one end ofsaid coil, means for conducting steam from the other end of said coil, awater receiving vessel in communication with said boiler, means forconducting steam .to said boiler, and means for placing the second namedmeans alternately in communication with said vessel and with the thirdnamed means.

14. An apparatus of the character described, comprising in combination,a boiler, a furnace for heating the same, a heating coil in proximity tosaid furnace and heated thereby, means for introducing Water to saidcoil, means for conducting steam from said coil, a water receivingvessel in communication with said boiler, a conduit leading to saidvessel, a third conduit, and means operable to place the second namedmeans in communication with said conduits alternately.

15. An apparatus of the character described, comprising in combination,a boiler, a furnace for heating the same, a heating coil, means forheating said coil, means for conducting water to said coil, means forconducting steam from said coil, a water receiving vessel incommunication with said boiler, means for conducting steam to saidboiler, and means operable to place the third named means alternately incommunication with said vessel and with the fourth named means.

16. An apparatus of the character de scribed, comprising in combination,a boiler, a steam generating coil, means for heating the same, means forconducting water to said coil, means for conducting steam from saidcoil, a water receiving vessel in communication with said boiler, andmeans operable to place the third named means periodically incommunication with said vessel to create a pressure therein in excess ofthat in the boiler.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH H. BANKS.

Witnesses:

CHAS. B. CnoMP'roN, MAY Gr. LUTTRELL.

